Opinions on the Buck 119

[Dionysusigma]

and

to be exact.

Well, like the title says, what do y'all think of the Buck 119?

Reason I ask is that I've had one for nigh on 3 years, now, and the only thing it gets used for is lookin' at. What is their intended purpose? What do you use it for? Is it a decent knife for the money?

More questions to come as I think of 'em...

 

[JShirley]

My only real complaint is that those handles can get slippery when wet.

J

 

[Dionysusigma]

Would paracord solve the problem? Handle seems a bit nice for that...

 

[JShirley]

You have to decide whether you want an attractive knife, or a user. A little medium-grit sandpaper and time would probably give you the latter, if that's what you want.

 

[Soap]

You could put skateboard tape around it. I used mine for years as my truck knife. I could make it extremely sharp on a stone and I didn't worry about it too much if I had to abuse it slightly.

 

[hso]

As John has said, good knife not so good grip.

Score it, chequre it, tape it and the grip will be better.

 

[ecos]

im not sure if it was the exact model but i owned one like it years ago. i agree with the slippery grip problems...i textured mine with a dremel tool. it was also a bit handle heavy for my tastes. i managed to break the tip off and take a half quarter sized chip out of the edge. the tip was my fault (but i still prefer drop points..personal choice) but the edge chipped out way too easily...hit a knot while whittling some wood and byebye edge. the edge of the chip wasnt bent at all so im assuming it was too hard (and hollow ground too thin imo) this was about 15 years ago so it may have been changed quite a bit since mine. overall i liked the knife but wouldnt use it for hard tasks.

 

[Guyon]

I have a 119 stuck in a BOB. Have wondered a bit about the grip. Think sandblasting the grip would help? I know some folks do that with their Beckers.

 

[Skofnung]

First a disclaimer: I don't like Buck knives. Others do, and I'm cool with that, but for me, they are a no go. This is based on two Bucks I have owned, both folders, both of 1970-1980's vintage. The steel would not hold an edge for long. Newer ones may be better.

The 119 is a pretty Ka-Bar with a hollow grind masquerading as a hunting knife. Now I like the Ka-Bar for what it is, a Fighting/Utility knife that excells at the former and is passable as the latter. My example (an old Camilius) has a flat grind. To me, this is preferable to the hollow grind of the Buck.

As a hunting knife (it's advertised rasion d'etre), it falls behind many other designs. As a fighter, I am sure it is passable, but as that is not an area that I am proficient in (yet) I will refrain from comment.

Roughing up that handle would be a requisite. Paracord would likely be too thick. Try some jute twine or some thin cotton twine using simple whipping before permanantly altering the grip with sandpaper or sandblasting.

 

[Moonclip]

All this talk about these made me dig out my special! It's been in the family for years! My dad gave it to me and I've never really used it but when I was a teen, some guy was threatening to kill my friend and I gave my friend the only weapon I had at the time, the Buck!

Luckily the Buck never had to be used. I used to think I'd like to rather have it's bigger brother, the "general" but the 119 is a good knife.

 

[Horsesense]

I have one and I like it. I chose it because of the utility of having a decent knife that could be used in field dressing and cutting meat, that would also be easy to clean up. Heck, two years ago I used it to field dress a buck and in the rush of trying to get everything done and get to bed at a reasonable hour, I ended up putting it in the sheath before cleaning it, didn’t even hose it off. The following summer I unsheathed it to find dried blood and fat etc incrusted on the blade, it cleaned up quickly and is no worse for the experience.



I also have a 112 folder that has the same utility. I have skinned lots of small game, and a dear or two with it, as well as all the sundry cutting, prying, digging and pounding tasks that go along with trapping…. No complaints.


PS: I don’t baby either knife and also have no trouble keeping a good edge on them.